Apples are nature’s grab-and-go snack, a juicy explosion of flavor that fits perfectly in your pocket or backpack. But they’re more than a delightful crunch. Apples are also powerhouses of fiber and antioxidants, a nutrient powerhouse. Let’s dig deep and discover more amazing facts about this popular fruit.
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Do You Know the Scientific Name for Apples?
The scientific name for an apple is Malus domestica. The word Malus comes from the Latin word malum, which means “apple.” Domestica comes from the Latin domus, which means “house.” The history of apples dates back thousands of years to when they were first cultivated by humans, and the apple still symbolizes health and healthy eating today.
Apples and bananas are the two most popular fruits Americans snack on. They’re so in demand that the average person consumes around sixteen pounds of apples each year. That’s a lot of apples! They’re the perfect on-the-go healthy snack. You can bite into one raw or slice and dice them into sweet or savory recipes, from apple pie or French toast to coleslaw. They’re also delicious in salsa, salads, and sauces.
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Apples Are Packed with Pectin
Did you know that apples are beneficial for your gut microbiome? They’re high in gut-friendly fiber, but they pack another surprise. They contain a particularly beneficial kind of fiber called pectin, a type of prebiotic. Healthy gut bacteria that live in your gut crave pectin. When you eat apples and other pectin-rich foods, friendly gut bacteria devour it and ferment it. During fermentation, they pump out short-chain fatty acids. These fatty acids help reduce gut inflammation.
But there’s more! Studies suggest that short-chain fatty acids, like butyric acid and propionic acid, may lower the risk of colon cancer. Plus, pectin slows digestion and helps prevent blood glucose spikes after meals. If you buy organic and wash apples thoroughly, consume them with the skin intact. Eating apples with the skin on provides the most pectin fiber, as the skin contains a sizable portion of an apple’s fiber content. To top it off, eating apples, because of their fiber and pectin, may lower LDL-cholesterol.
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Three-quarters of the Fiber in Apples Is in the Skin
Did you know that the skin of an apple is where most of its fiber is found? Fiber helps digestion and appetite control, and keeps your colon healthy, while reducing gut inflammation. It also helps stabilize your blood sugar. So, you’re doing yourself a disservice by peeling an apple (and wasting food too). If you buy organic and wash apples thoroughly, eat the whole apples, skin, and all. But make it a habit to choose organic, as conventional apples are heavily sprayed.
If you’re having difficulty losing weight, try adding more fiber-rich foods to your diet, like apples. They’re low in calories and high in nutrients. Skip the cookies or candy bars! Apples contain natural sugars but provide lots of fiber and antioxidants to prevent a spike in glucose.
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Apples Are in the Rose Family
Did you know that apples are a member of the rose family, along with pears and plums? In fact, apples share more DNA with these other fruits than their fellow apple relatives (like crab apples). Other members of the rose family include Pears, Cherries, Strawberries, and Peaches. You might not think of apples as being in the family that roses are, but is it really that surprising? Just look at their rosy color!
5.”An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away” is an old Welsh proverb
You’ve heard the proverb “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” many times. But did you know it’s been around since 1913? It comes from a Welsh proverb that was originally phrased like this: “Eat an apple on going to bed, and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread.” There’s truth in those words too. With the nutritional content of apples and their fiber and antioxidants, they fight inflammation, a driving force behind chronic health issues, like heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and cancer. That’s why the old proverb lives on!
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Apples May Improve Lung Function
Some studies show that a diet rich in apples improves lung function and helps treat the symptoms of asthma. In one study consuming five or more apples weekly lowered the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and slowed the age-related drop in lung function among healthy people and ex-smokers. What accounts for these benefits? Apples are an abundant source of quercetin, a bioflavonoid with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. It is particularly beneficial for reducing airway inflammation.
Apples are rich in antioxidants like quercetin, which has anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce airway inflammation related to allergic asthma. In addition, some research finds that quercetin helps tame seasonal allergy symptoms. The quercetin is concentrated in the apple skin.
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China Is the Biggest Apple Producer
Where do most apples, with their fiber-rich goodness, come from? China tops the list growing an impressive forty-four million tons each year. The United States is second in line but only produces 4.6 million tons on a yearly basis. Most states in the United States grow apples, but Washington state stands out in terms of its apple production, growing 125 million boxes of this fruit yearly.
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There Are Lots of Varieties to Choose From
How many types of apples are there? Prepare to be amazed! When you consider the entire world, there are over 7500 varieties of apples, of which around 2500 grow in the United States. Cherish those apples! Planting an apple tree is an investment that doesn’t pay off quickly. It takes an apple tree five to seven years to begin producing apples. The time varies depending on the variety of the apple tree and its location. A mature apple tree, under the right conditions, can produce up to five hundred pounds of apples every year. Apple trees are hardy and can survive a variety of climate conditions. They often grow in the northern parts of the United States and Canada.
Conclusion
So, there you have it – fascinating facts about apples and why they’re a healthy snack. Now it’s your job to discover new ways to add their sweet and tart crunch to your diet and reap the health rewards!
References:
- “Apple scientific name and Scientific classification.” scientificname.in/apple-scientific-name-and-scientific-classification/.
- Morteza Jafarinia, Mahnaz Sadat Hosseini, kasiri N, et al. Quercetin with the potential effect on allergic diseases. Allergy, asthma & clinical immunology/Allergy, asthma, and clinical immunology. 2020;16(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13223-020-00434-0
- U.S.: fresh apples consumption per capita, 2020/21 | Statista. Statista. Published 2020. Accessed October 15, 2022. statista.com/statistics/257167/per-capita-consumption-of-fresh-apples-in-the-us/Mlcek J, Jurikova T, Skrovankova S, Sochor J. Quercetin, and Its Anti-Allergic Immune Response. Molecules. 2016 May 12;21(5):623. doi: 10.3390/molecules21050623. PMID: 27187333; PMCID: PMC6273625.”An Apple is a Rose? – Smithsonian Gardens.” gardens.si.edu/gardens/folger-rose-garden/an-apple-is-a-rose/.
- “An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away — Fact or Fiction? – Healthline.” 06 Jul. 2020, healthline.com/nutrition/an-apple-a-day-keeps-the-doctor-away.
- “Honeycrisp Apple | The UFOR Nursery & Lab – University of Minnesota.” trees.umn.edu/nursery-tour/species/hoap.
- “Fun & Facts – Washington Apple Commission.” washingtonapples.in/fun-facts/.
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